When you read this, I’ll be miles away from home, exploring, hiking, fishing, canoeing, mingling with family, sitting around a campfire and enjoying my Canada Day in the only way I know how: by enjoying the great outdoors.

I’ll be going to my most favour place in the world, so close to the Atlantic Ocean I could throw a book from my deck chair and hit the water. I’ll be so close to family I’ll be able to look across the table and see them, walk to the next property and see more, and continue walking for half a kilometre and still see more.

Cousins abound due to Tibert fertility. My grandmother had 17 children; my father being the eleventh. He added eleven more to the clan. We love the old homestead so much, even when we don’t live there, we go there often in spite of the distance.

This place is in the middle of nowhere, where sometimes the only sounds you hear are the ripple of water and the cry of a gull. It’s a place where I’ve done a lot of reading and writing, a place where I can organise my thoughts. I find myself here each time I’m lost. It reminds me of who I am and what’s important in life.

It’s a place where I’ve walked miles along the shore, rowed for hours on the harbour, went days without wearing shoes, and beachcombed after storms. It’s where I found my lucky life rock. It’s a place so close to endless ocean beaches one could spend a week searching for rocks and shells, finding crabs and unique driftwood, and exploring until the sun goes down.

This is my sanctuary. I was delivered here shortly after birth, so I didn’t have to find it; I only needed to recognise it for what it was. It is where I connect with Mother Earth, release unwanted tension and feel the energy that surrounds me.

This place doesn’t have everything, and I am perfectly fine with that. Our little cottage has no running water, no Internet service and no Tim Horton’s within a two-hour drive. I don’t have a phone, so I won’t even be tempted to go online. I’m leaving my laptop home, opting instead for paper, pen and the new book that arrived last week.

I hope on this Canada, you too find time to spend in your sanctuary, do some writing, some reading, some relaxing and enjoy the outdoors. And if you haven’t found your sanctuary yet, journey on. It’s out there.

13 thoughts on “Happy Canada Day – Let the Adventure Begin”

I was in Barcelona on Canada Day. I was having a good time lapping up all the history and architecture when I spotted 2 young women, one wearing a Canadian flag. I had to run up to them and introduce myself. They were from BC. They said even though they were in Spain on a holiday, they were still celebrating Canada Day! I gave them hugs. I love your getaway place. Isn´t it wonderful to be part of a large loving family? I will be back in Canada in August and will continue the celebrations then.

Isn’t it wonderful when you meet someone from ‘home’ while away? It’s a truly unique feeling I didn’t understand until I was away from home for three months. The one-week trips didn’t give me the same feelings.

I had spent three months in Banff, Alberta, and took the bus home to Nova Scotia. After four days, I climb onto the bus in Montreal. I was surrounded by everyone from the Maritimes and my ears enjoyed the many different dialects of Cape Breton, Newfoundland and mainland Nova Scotia, the ones I’d grown up with. It was like home before we even pulled out of the terminal.

It is amazing to have a huge family. I can’t imagine life any other way.

We had a great time. And, yes, your celebration is tomorrow. I’m sure more than a million flags are ready to catch the wind. If it’s anything like here, there will be flags at every corner and many vehicles.

Ah, I didn’t know. BC, you say. It’s the only province I’ve never visited, not because I don’t want to; I made it only to Banff and hung out in the mountains for three months. Some day, I’ll go, then I’ll have travelled from coast to coast.

Thank you, John. I’ve never been to the Yukon or Northwest. Some day. I’ll visit Alaska too. My nephew went on an Alaskan cruise and loved it. I think everyone in North American as generally nice. A few bad apples might try to spoil it, but the good certainly outweigh the bad. I’ve been as far west as Alberta and as far south as Memphis, and I found everyone to be good people.

Thank you, Tidalscribe. It was a wonderful weekend in spite of all the rain. It was nice to be in my second home (future retirement home) and see family I haven’t seen for a while. During the heavy rain, I taught my son to play Rummy 500. Sadly, I haven’t taught my kids to play many card games. For the cost of a deck of cards, hours of fun can be had and memories made. We also went fishing, toured the shore and visited my father’s grave. The lupins were in full bloom. They were beautiful.

Diane Tibert is a writer, editor and publisher based in Nova Scotia, Canada. You can reach her at: tibert@live.com

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Book 1 of the Castle Keepers Fantasy Series: Corporal Bronwyn Darrow vows he’ll never fall victim to love again after the woman he adored betrays him. He directs his energies to rising in the ranks of Aruam Castle, aspiring to one day command as captain of the guards. Although he treasures his home and family, he is blinded both by his desire to succeed and a mysterious magic lurking in the shadows of the ancient castle. Alaura of Niamh, a half-breed enchantress with a deadly past, takes refuge in Bronwyn’s hometown. When the two meet, the spell which binds them is stronger than their fears of falling in love.Book 2 in the Castle Keepers Fantasy Series: Bronwyn Darrow is desperate to rescue his daughter Isla from Blackvale Castle. For five long years, he’s travelled Ath-o’Lea searching for her, but the formidable castle remains elusive. He’s surrendered his coveted sergeant’s position at Aruam Castle, but he’s willing to sacrifice everything—even his honour—to bring Isla home. If he fails, his innocent little girl will face a lifetime of slavery.

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